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I chose to write about Viet Nam as I felt an unusual and uncharacteristic longing for this country, though I had no attachement to it, nor any of its inhabitants. The longing turned into reality a couple of years ago, and as a result became even more pronounced, - prompting a second visit. As I reflect, and immerse myself in the memories of these visits, I am aware that the similarities between Viet Nam and Egypt are not coincidental. Both countries were heavily influenced by French presence, and to this day, that presence is felt in the architecture, the infrastructure, and the cuisine of both countries. But so much more in Viet Nam that in Egypt, as the latter wishes to eradicate any ties to its non-arabic past.EMAIL ME

More than 500 artisans, artists and athletics from Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces are attending the Vietnam Coastal Village Festival which opened in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan on August 2.(Detail)

The Lang Co Festival 2011 – the World Beautiful Bay will be held in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on July 9-10 to promote tourism and encourage investment in the Lang Co-Chan May economic zone.(Detail)

Hoi An ancient city People’s Committee will coordinate with the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam and the Japan Centre for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam to organize the 9th Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange on August 21st and 22nd.(Detail)

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival of Vietnam’s ethnic groups in the Central Coastal and Highland region with the theme “Sea and Island Tourism” will be held in Phu Yen Province by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Phu Yen Provincial People's Committee from July 1st to 9th 2011. (Detail)

The Quang Binh Culture and Tourism Week 2011 with many plentiful and diversified activities will take place from June 5 to 11, 2011 in Quang Binh Province. This is the first event held to welcome the new tourism season in Quang Binh.(Detail)

International visitors to Vietnam in November estimated 387,871 arrivals. Totally, international visitors in 11 months reached 3,400,088 arrivals, 12.3% lower than those in the same period of year 2008. (Detail)

Getting married is an important event in a Vietnamese’s life. The procedure of the ancient wedding ceremony was very complicated. Current wedding ceremony procedures include the following steps: the search for a husband or wife, the proposal, the registration, and finally the wedding.(Detail)

The Quiet American

The Lover (L'amant)

QUICK TIPS FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS

Vietnam is still traditional despite its giant leaps forward. Please try to observe the following:

· Leave the cut-offs at home; dress modestly, and women should avoid plunging necklines.· Don’t touch anyone on the head, children included.· Don’t do anything with your left hand, which is considered dirty (lefties, I have no advice for you). · Don’t give white flowers; any other color is okay.· If you’re going out to dinner, communal dishes are shared by all.· When eating, don’t rest your chopsticks on top of the bowl, but rather to the side.· Don’t cross your legs when sitting on a chair.· Don’t point (I have this terrible habit!!).· If you wear a hat, remove it for elderly, monks, and ladies.· Don’t tell people you are not married (if you are single, they will pity you; if you are living together, talk about your children).· Don’t give children money, sweets, clothes, or any medicine.· Appropriate gifts are pictures: you, your family, your country, the community; I had some fridge magnets with New York and the U.S. flag, colored markers that delighted the kids. Best Way To Get Around:Take cabs everywhere; they are inexpensive, fast, and can get you to most destinations for under US$5 unless you’re going out of town.

If you are a very experienced motorbike rider, you may want to give it a try, but do keep in mind you are taking your life in your hands, literally.

People in the imperial capital of Hue are very good at cooking so they have many recipes to unique and delicious dishes using salt with cereals, vegetables, meat and fish. One of these delicacies is rice served with salt. There are up to a dozen kinds of salt, such as muoi tieu (pepper salt), muoi vung (sesame salt), muoi sa (lemongrass salt), muoi rieng (galingale salt), muoi tom (shrimp salt) and muoi thit heo (pork salt). The dish is imbued with the culinary art of Hue and is a favourite of both the poor and the rich.
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Hue rice vermicelli soup is a popular dish both in the north and the south of Vietnam. The dish has a typical sweet taste of mam ruoc (a special shrimp paste in the south), the aroma of lemongrass and the peppery flavour of stewed dried chilli. Rice vermicelli threads used for the dish must be white, soft and big.
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Hanoi is famous for its culinary arts. Visiting Hanoi, people have a chance to enjoy hundreds of delicacies and snacks. For instance, there are dozens of dishes served with vermicelli. These delectable dishes include Bun thang (vermicelli soup with chicken, egg and pork), Bun moc (vermicelli soup with meat balls, Bun rieu (crab noodle soup) and Bun ca (fish noodle soup). It is impossible not to mention most people’s favorite, Bun cha kep que tre (vermicelli with pork grilled over charcoal).
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When speaking about this dish, people think of the greasy flavour of eel, the light, sour taste of thickened rice vinegar and the typical salty taste of shrimp paste. This dish is best served with rice or rice vermicelli in cold weather.
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Tet (Lunar New Year Holidays) is a special occasion for family res and enjoying traditional delicious dishes, such as lean pork pie, Banh chung (square glutinous rice cake) and dried bamboo shoot soup, an indispensable dish during the feast for Tet of people in northern Vietnam. The dish shows the culinary cultural features of Vietnamese people who often make dishes from materials found in the forests and mountainous areas.
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